What Is A Faraday Cage?

So, even if there isn't a large-scale survival situation taking place, an EMP can cause one to start very quickly. In some instances, they can even be outright deadly.

That's where a Faraday cage comes in.

It's essentially a shield that stops electro-magnetic waves in their tracks.

A Faraday cage is typically made from metal wires or plates, and it redirects electrical charges away from whatever is inside of the cage.

Uses For Faraday Cages

Engineers and lab workers often have to use Faraday shields to protect their sensitive electrical equipment.

Microwave ovens are the most common forms of Faraday cages. Inside of your microwave, there is a metal shell. That shell is there to keep all of the microwaves being used to heat your food from spreading out into your kitchen and potentially harming you.

Electricians use Faraday equipment every single day. The suits that protect them from being electrocuted are essentially personal Faraday cages. Those suits and other pieces of equipment work to redirect electrical currents so their wearer doesn't suffer a deadly shock.

Elevators aren't technically Faraday cages, but they do partially function like them. The metal walls found in most elevators block out most electrical signals. That's why you lose your cellular signal when you take a ride in one.

In some cases, Faraday shields are used to protect sensitive and powerful electronic devices such as computers and generators.

Faraday cages protect from radio waves, too. That makes them extremely useful for the military and other individuals who have to worry about being spied on. A room that functions as a Faraday cage can prevent wiretaps and other spying equipment from working.

MRI scanners are also common examples of Faraday technology. MRI machines utilize powerful magnets to capture the images that they take, and that generates an electro-magnetic field. So, the inside of an MRI machine is designed to function as a Faraday cage to prevent the machine from capturing images of things outside of it.

Why You Should Get A Faraday Cage

If you simply read the examples I've provided so far, it may seem as if you don't have a use for a Faraday cage unless you work in a field that requires it.

That's not true, though.

They can help the average person prevent very common threats, and they can help you get prepared for less common survival situations.

EMP Attack

An electro-magnetic pulse attack may seem like something out of a Tom Clancy novel, but the threat is very real.

The U.S. has ignored the possibility of an EMP attack, and that has left us vulnerable.

A pocket radio isn't as good as a hand-cranked solar radio, but it'll help while your on the move, and it's a good way to know what's going on in the world.

Hand-cranked radios are far superior to pocket radios, but they're larger and less mobile. I highly suggest throwing one of these in your Faraday cage encase of an emergency.

Ham radios are going to be your main way of communicating with the outside world during an emergency. Phone lines will be down, and you won't have many other options. It's important to keep a good ham radio protected at all times.

Walkie-talkies may not help you establish contact with the outside world, but they'll help you communicate with your family and friends when you're forced to temporarily separate.

Flashlights and tactical flashlights are crucial during survival, and they're easily damaged by EMP attacks. Keep several spares in your Faraday cage.

Headlamps can technically go in the flashlight section, but their ability to give you hands-free light makes them special, and they're one of the first light sources you should pack away in your Faraday cage.

Right now, hunting is only truly necessary for rural citizens. Everyone else pretty much does it as a hobby or tradition. In a survival situation, that could change drastically. Hunting can become a necessity for all people, and any gear that helps with that can make your life a lot easier in the future. For that reason, I suggest putting your trail cameras and other hunting electronics into a Faraday cage.

Some sort of rechargeable battery is a necessary part of every prepper's kit, and they're susceptible to EMPs. I recommend throwing a few rechargeable batteries in your cage, and you should also invest in a solar charger to keep them charged when the power goes out.

I've talked about survival watches in the past. If you read that article, you'll know that I think everyone should own one. However, the one you wear everyday is going to be susceptible to EMP damage. For that reason, I recommend putting a spare in your cage.

On The Go

Two items should be carried on your body every single day.

A Faraday bag will keep your EDC electronics safe.

RFID wallets are controversial because of how rare RFID crimes are, but it's still a good thing to have one and not need it.

I suggest storing a Faraday cage in your car for a few items, too.

Communication equipment is even more important for the cage in your car. If you get stranded, and you don't have any communication devices, you'll have a much harder time getting to safety.

Lights are also important for your car. If an EMP attack or solar flare occurs at night, you won't have street lamps and all of the other lights generated by modern society. Nighttime will seem a lot darker when all of the ambient lights go out.

Faraday Cage Myths

There are some myths that surround Faraday cages, and I want to take this time to bust those myths.

Like most myths, the internet tends to have a lot of false information about these, and I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea about their new prep device.

You can test a faraday cage with your phone

A lot of people believe that they can test their Faraday device by putting their cellphone in it, and calling their phone from another phone.

What's even worse is that they often believe that their cage doesn't work if their phone rings.

That's entirely false.

A Faraday cage dampens signals, but a phone operates on frequencies that allow it to work from within the device under certain circumstances.

That doesn't mean the cage doesn't work. It just means that a small signal got through it.

Your faraday cage need to be grounded

You also don't need to have your cage grounded.

​A lot of people believe that grounding a Faraday cage is important, but it really just makes the cage a little better. It will work without being grounded.

If cages had to be grounded, a lot of RFID protectors wouldn't work.

All modern vehicles will stop working in case of an EMP attack

It's a common misconception that all modern vehicles are going to become useless if an EMP attack happens.

That's another misconception.

A lot of cars will suffer some sort of damage, but a large number of cars will remain functional because they don't utilize electronic parts for their most crucial systems.

If you want to fact check any of my claims or learn about other myths, you should check out this book.

Conclusion

Owning a Faraday cage is an important part of properly preparing, but it's not the most important.